The album will be released on April 14. And if the entire album is as kickass as lead single “Help, I’m Alive,” it’s going to be quite a good one.
01. Help I’m Alive
02. Sick Muse
03. Satellite Mind
04. Twilight Galaxy
05. Gold Guns Girls
06. Gimme Sympathy
07. Collect Call
08. Front Row
09. Blindness
10. Stadium Love
This is just a mix of some songs that I’m really getting into right now.
1. Bon Iver – Beach Baby
2. They Might Be Giants – Hey, Mr. DJ, I Thought You Said We Had A Deal
3. Portugal. The Man – AKA M80 The Wolf
4. Ezra Furman & The Harpoons – Take Off Your Sunglasses
5. Franz Ferdinand – Ulysses
6. Animal Collective – Summertime Clothes
7. Wolf Parade – Grounds For Divorce
8. Frog Eyes – Caravan Breakers, They Prey On The Weak And The Old
9. Zookeeper – Trumpets
10. Sigur Ros – Vid Spilum Endalaust
11. Antony & The Johnsons – Epilepsy Is Dancing
12. Massive Attack – Teardrop
13. Frightened Rabbit – Floating In The Forth
—
Download the mix here (file size: 82 MB)
Justin Vernon took the indie music world by storm last year with his 2007-but-also-2008 release For Emma, Forever Ago. Now he’s followed that up with this nice little EP here. And he has broadened his horizons since then, including not just a guitar, but a piano and vocorder.
Beginning the EP is the soft pop-rock number “Blood Bank”, an account of a spontaneous midwinter romance that sounds conceptually like something Stars could have recorded. Vernon makes use of the lower register we heard on “Blindsided.” This is thrown away right afterward on the flawless “Beach Baby,” the EP’s throwback to For Emma that can only be described as short and sweet, finishing with a tropical guitar break that is a perfect complement to the lyrics.
“Babys” opens with an out-of-tune piano introduction and the mantra “Summer comes / To multiply,” whose meaning is all too obvious. Then comes the nonsensical “I’m the Carnival of Peace / I’ll probably start a fleet / with no apologies.” All I can think is Justin Vernon is going to make a fleet of babies? What? I don’t get it. Then the mantra and the piano return to close the song out.
Lastly comes the a cappella “Woods,” featuring what sounds like (gasp!) Auto-Tune Bon Iver. However, I will forgive him, as he has demonstrated that he is perfectly capable of singing without the use of such devices. Yet the autotuning does not detract from the song, a plethora of R&B vocal flourishes run through a vocorder and layered over each other, producing a song about what appears to be a prohibition-era moonshiner, repeating “I’m up in the woods / I’m down on my mind / I’m building a still / To slow down the time.” Yet it is captivating all the same.
One disadvantage of For Emma was that it dragged in places. On listens, I would feel finished after “The Wolves,” because those first four tracks so beautifully encompassed the essence of the entire album. While Blood Bank is not by any means long, it manages to capture the feeling of something much bigger than itself, like Bon Iver does so well.
We all have had that dream at one point in our life: Start a band and become the newest indie rock sensations when, luckily, the right person at Pitchfork hears your album and gives it 9.7, immediately launching you into the limelight. Well, we can’t all be Arcade Fire (one of them is bad enough as it is) but we can still start a band and have fun. Need help getting started? Just follow these simple steps:
First, go here.
The name of the article is the name of your band.
Next, go here.
Scroll down to the last quote on the page. The last four words or so is the name of your debut album. You don’t necessarily have to use exactly four words. You can take however many words from the end you need for your album to sound nice and indie. The last couple words of every other quote on the page are your album’s tracklist. Inclusion of a title track is optional.
Finally, go here.
The third picture is your album cover. Now throw it all together in photoshop or something and write some music and your album is all ready to go!
Here are some examples:
“His Own Dear Person,” the debut from Gurgaon Rural:
1. Joy From Your Neighbors
2. The Thing You Think You Cannot Do
3. “Occupant”
4. When We Change
5. Always Been Insufferable
6. The Work That You Love
7. Grown Up
8. Are Not
9. It Is Quite Incredible
This group is probably some quasi-electronic indie pop group from some European country. They’d probably sound like a mix of Animal Collective and Daft Punk.
Next, we have the debut from Rate of Change, entitled “The Biggest Piece:”
1. Try To Cheer Someone Else Up
2. We Never Laugh
3. The Top Of One’s Voice
4. Resemblance To Ourselves
5. Nothing In Yourself
6. Remedied
7. Forgiveness And Gratefulness
8. The True Fabric Of Self
9. In A Sane Society
10. The Biggest Piece
I’m pretty sure these guys are some sort of Christian Indie band, if there can be such a thing. I still would really like to hear a song called “In A Sane Society.”
Finally, “Only In Retrospect” by The Crimson Patch:
1. Writing About You
2. Students
3. Acquire It
4. Without Knowing It
5. Sarcastic Thing
6. A Clever Man
7. Accomplish Something
8. Influencing Change
9. Can’t Read Them Either
10. Only In Retrospect
Now THIS I want to hear. The Crimson Patch is probably an outlet for Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) to showcase his heavier, darker side. It’d probably be like Bon Iver with some post-rock elements. In other words, super crazy interesting. I really want to hear “A Clever Man.”
And there you have it. Three easy steps for getting your indie rock dreams off the ground. Now all you need to do is write the music…
—
I feel like a newcomer to this whole “indie” thing, seeing as what I thought was obscure at one point was the equivalent of pop at the indie level, if you know what I mean. Basically, I wasn’t excited for this album. Not because I dislike Animal Collective, by any means, but because I had never heard anything else by Animal Collective.
But this is good, right? I mean, this is a review of the new Animal Collective album from someone who’s never heard Animal Collective before! It’s the ultimate test! Now, how did Merriweather Post Pavilion go over with this Animal Collective virgin?
Very, very well, I’d say. I will first say that for me, this one was a grower. I had this impression that Animal Collective were some sort of pseudo-electronic group, and was thus wary of the album upon first listen. However, after three more listens, their talent showed through. Here is an album that manages to take what seem to be indecipherable messes of sound, and craft catchy music out of them. “My God,” I thought to myself, “This is genius!”
Album highlights include the catchy and danceable “My Girls,” with its catchy chorus about living simply: “I just want / four walls and adobe slabs / for my girls.” Hand claps abound. There is also the foot-stomping and bouncy “Summertime Clothes,” the poppy “Bluish,” and the solid closer “Brothersport.”
Right now I’m going to disagree with most other reviewers on the album’s true highlight. While “My Girls” and “Brothersport” are close, my highlight is the purely awesome “Lion In A Coma.” Partially, it’s due to its unusual time signature, but mostly for its thundering pace and twanging line for whatever that instrument is that they use that I don’t know the name of (it sounds like a didgeridoo). The wordplay also plays a part. Yet not all of the album is a high point. The middle track “Daily Routine” is one that I found to drag on a bit too long (I found myself thinking “Come on and end already so I can hear ‘Bluish!’”)
Critics are already calling this the best album of 2009, something to which I take offense. I am not making any statements about this album’s placement on my year-end best of list. After all, there are still releases from Swan Lake and Handsome Furs to look forward to, not to mention Sunset Rubdown! Still, while I’m waiting for my Canadian man-crushes to put some stuff out, Merriweather Post Pavilion will do me just fine. Can I have my indie cred now?
(I’m going to use the Pitchfork system for my ratings. Why? Because I think it’s the best system for reviewing albums, that’s why.)
Tracklist:
1. Spanish Gold, 2044
2. Paper Lace
3. Heartswarm
4. Settle on Your Skin
5. Ballad of a Swan Lake, or, Daniel’s Song
6. Peace
7. Spider
8. A Hand at Dusk
9. Warlock Psychologist
Enemy Mine will be released March 24. It will be a nice way to tide us over until Sunset Rubdown’s 2009 release (tentatively scheduled for June)
20. Lambchop – Oh (Ohio)
I couldn’t get past Kurt Wagner’s hushed baritone at first listen, but on a random shuffle I heard “A Hold Of You,” and I thought to myself, “Hmm, maybe I ought to listen to this album.” I did, and it is a nice album for chillaxing when you aren’t feeling so great. Kurt Wagner’s voice seems to say “I know how you feel. Let me tell you about it.”
—
19. Portugal. The Man – Censored Colors
The best people to come out of Wasilla, Alaska have ditched the hard rock of 2007′s Church Mouth and made a softer, yet still wonderful album.
—
18. of Montreal – Skeletal Lamping
Kevin Barnes takes us on the musical equivalent of an acid trip, where songs constantly shift styles, people get horny (see “For Our Elegant Caste,”) and things all go bad and we start freaking out, but we come down in the end and we take it again.
—
17. TV On The Radio – Dear Science
TV On The Radio began as an experimental rock group, but with this album they’ve made very accessible rock songs that maintain TVOTR’s sensibilities, varying from fast-talking speak-singing (“Dancing Choose”) to poppy dance melodies (“Golden Age”) to slow ballads (“Family Tree”). A good listen any day.
—
16. Islands – Arm’s Way
Arcade Fire are quite fond of walls of strings and guitars. Islands are fond of those things as well. The difference? Islands make good music with them. From the swirling “The Arm” to the 11-minute closer “Vertigo (If It’s A Crime),” Islands have made an album of songs that stick in the back of your mind and stay there.
—
15. Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles
The first CD I ever bought with my own money was Daft Punk’s Human After All. I was a very passionate Daft Punk fan at the time, but since then I fell out of favor with electronic music. Then I heard this album. It is an awesome series of glitchy electronics and vocals that never ceases to please. It reminds me of an Atari having sex with an NES while a drum machine smashes a Speak ‘n’ Spell.
—
14. Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago
One of the very very over-hyped albums of the year, but one of the few that’s very good at the same time. It starts off very strong with “Flume” and “Skinny Love” but after hearing the whole album, I feel as though people don’t like the whole album, they just like a few of the songs on it. So much, in fact, that it goes on top ten lists. Yet I feel like a hypocrite, since those same few songs nearly landed this in the #4 spot. In any case, this is still a good album, as is the forthcoming Blood Bank EP. I am eagerly looking forward to more stuff from Bon Iver.
—
13. Coldplay – Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends
Possibly the second most hyped album of the year, (the first being Chinese Democracy) and one of the most overproduced, Viva La Vida… still shines. Although this album claims to be a “reinvention” of Coldplay’s style, it still retains many fragments of their earlier material (“Lovers In Japan” could have appeared on X&Y). And the album also shows some major steps forward (“Cemeteries of London,” “Strawberry Swing”), but the real gem here is closer “Death and All His Friends.” Possibly the first or second best thing Coldplay has recorded.
—
12. Death Cab For Cutie – Narrow Stairs
Death Cab manage to recover from the disappointing Plans and produce a solid album of their familiar brand of indie/pop/rock. While there are some missteps (“Pity & Fear” is particularly weak,) there are tracks to make up for them. “Your New Twin Sized Bed” was my personal anthem for a while. Surely it could be somebody else’s.
—
11. The Spinto Band – Moonwink
Poor, poor Spinto Band. Their new album was largely unnoticed and/or derided (see: Pitchfork), and their incredibly fun live shows were overshadowed by the up-and-coming opener Frightened Rabbit. True, this album doesn’t entirely match up to their breakout Nice and Nicely Done, but it delivers 11 tracks of happy-go-lucky bubblegum pop over a concise 33 minutes. My complaint: It’s too short.
—
10. The Fratellis – Here We Stand
And now we reach the top ten! The Fratellis turned me into a fan with “Chelsea Dagger” a couple years back, and this year I was excited to hear this album, but I heard that it was a letdown, so I let it sit unplayed in my library. That is, until recently, when I decided I would give it a listen. I found my low expectations to be unfounded. This album is impressive from beginning to end, taking a more subdued turn from the hard rock that got tired near the end of Costello Music. Here We Stand manages to rock just as hard and inject a substantial amount of the blues.
—
9. Fall Out Boy – Folie à Deux
You may hang your head in shame upon seeing this. How does an unattractive emo band make it onto a top albums list? Here’s how: By making catchy music. Fall Out Boy is an ugly-looking band, but then again, the Who weren’t the most dashing lads either. They can still make catchy hooks and write clever lyrics, and still have loads of fun playing their music. Listen to “20 Dollar Nose Bleed” and I think you’ll hear what I mean.
—
8. Okkervil River – The Stand-Ins
Despite what other critics have said, The Stand-Ins is just as good as its predecessor, The Stage Names. Will Sheff is still a lyrical genius (“He’s the liar who lied in his pop song / and you’re lying when you sing along,” he chastises on “Pop Lie) and at the same time an orator. He talks to people, picks them apart, and puts them back together, but not in the same way.
—
7. Ezra Furman and the Harpoons – Inside The Human Body
My brother heard “Big Deal” and asked me “Who’s this guy who’s trying to sing?” Sure, Ezra Furman may not have the most beautiful voice, but he and his harpoons make a great blend of hard-indie-folk-rock. Standout song “Take Off Your Sunglasses” recalls the speak-singing of The Hold Steady and is backed by Dylanesque harmonica. “The Faceless Boy” reminds me of Neutral Milk Hotel’s “Two Headed Boy.” And “Big Deal” is just plain fun. Like this album. It’s a real big deal.
—
6. Los Campesinos! – Hold On Now, Youngster…
The seven Welsh youngsters that comprise Los Campesinos! are full of youthful exuberance and are not hesitant to make youth-culture references like “Ctrl-Alt-Deleting your face” or goosebumps that read like “A final, fatal LiveJournal entry.” They also win the award for “greatest song title of 2008″ with “This Is How You Spell, ‘HAHAHA, We Destroyed The Hopes And Dreams Of A Generation Of Faux-Romantics’” and then singing the title in the song. They are rebellious youths. They make rebellious youth music. Good music.
—
5. Jukebox The Ghost – Let Live And Let Ghosts
Another relatively obscure band, this one from the Washington, DC area, makes amazing music and ends up on my list. It’s about time these guys came around. I’ve been listening to Elton John for so long and waiting for a different kind of piano rock, and along comes the classically trained Ben Thornewill and a couple of his buddies to make it. Maybe it’s because I have a weakness for the piano, but Let Live and Let Ghosts delivers song after song of rocking-cool goodness, bouncing lead vocal duties back and forth between the lovesick Thornewill and the angry, nihilistic Tommy Siegel. You won’t hear a piano rock album more fun or ebullient as this one this year.
—
4. Wolf Parade – At Mount Zoomer
What is Mt. Zoomer? I think of it as the place where Spencer Krug and that other guy (Dan Boeckner) went and had a brutal musical cage fight. Spencer obviously wins this one (sorry Dan) and this album is the chronicle of the battle, with Dan and Spencer trading off lead vocal duties for songs that get longer until they trade verses on the epic finale “Kissing The Beehive.” Other standouts are Boeckner’s “Soldier’s Grin” (his best on the album) and Krug’s dirge “Call It A Ritual” and thundering rocker “California Dreamer.” Next year should be another year of battle between these two, as Handsome Furs (Boeckner’s side project) and Sunset Rubdown have albums slated for release. I can hardly wait.
—
3. Sigur Rós – Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
Sigur Rós stripped away the soundscapes of Takk… and inject an element of pop into their music. Among the amazing poppy melodies like “Við Spilum Endalaust” are slow standouts “Festival” and “Ára Bátur,” all of which create a fully rounded album that is Sigur Rós at their very best.
—
2. Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend
The ultimate breakout band of 2008 makes the ultimate breakout album. Vampire Weekend have justly earned their fame. This album does not have a bad song on it. There really is nothing more I have to say except that I can’t wait to see what else these Ivy Leaguers have up their sleeve.
And the number one album of two thousand and eight is…
…
…
…
1. Frightened Rabbit – The Midnight Organ Fight
Poor, poor Spinto Band. Their new album was largely unnoticed and/or derided and their incredibly fun live shows were overshadowed by the up-and-coming opener Frightened Rabbit, and one listen to this album explains exactly why. The songs explode with angst and Scott Hutchison’s yearning vocals are like cries of pain and cries for help. Opener “The Modern Leper” is a study in self-pity, as Hutchison wonders aloud why she comes back to him, singing “You must be a masochist / To love a modern leper on his last leg” while “My Backwards Walk” paints a picture of a man stuck in a relationship he can’t leave. And “Keep Yourself Warm” proves to be the album’s epic, as well as an epic in their live show. Congratulations, Frightened Rabbit, you made my year.
